Process of assembling radiators



Oct. 27, 1931. w. sHuR'rLEl-'F 829,241

PROCESS OF ASSEMBLING HADIIATORSA original Filed Dec. 29.1926

Patented @ein 27, 1931 'UNITED STATES lZStZlll PATENT OFFICE WILFRED SHURTLEFF, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO THE HERMAN-NELSON i CORPORATION, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PROCESS OF ASSEMBLING' RADIATORS Original application led December 29, 1926, Serial No. 157,658, and in Great Britain March 1, 1927. Divided and this application ied February 1, 1930. Serial No. 425,099.

My invention relates to improvements in processes of assembllng radiators for heating purposes. This application 1s a dlvision of my co-pending application Serial Number core, assembling the fins on the core in proper relative position, and applying such torce to the tins in the proper direction to bring about an intimate heat conducting contact between the core and tins.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

ln the drawings forming a part of this speciication Fiff. 1 is a side elevationalview of a radiator illustrating my improved process in connection with the forming and assembling of the parts thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of one end of a radiator, partly in section, illustratin the manner in which the parts are assem led; y

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on enlarged scale, corresponding substantially to the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the ins or plates employed in connection with my improved radiator; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale. corresponding substantially to the line 5-'5 of Fig. 3, illustrating two,

adjacent tins or plates, the hollow container or core of the radiator being omitted for the sake of clearness.

My process ma be carried into eEect in connection with the making and assembling of radiator parts such as disclosed in the l above mentioned patent, or it may be employed in making and assembling of the ra- I diator parts which are shown in the accompanying drawings and which involve certain improvements over the process disclosed in said patent.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates a radiator made in accordance with my process, the radiator shown being of the type employed in the usual direct heating systems, that is. in systems where the radiator is placed directly in the room to be heated, and in'Fig. 2 B designates a radiator of the type employed in connection with an indirect heating system, that is, where the radiator is disposed in a cabinet or housing into which air is drawn and then expelled from the housing into the room to be heated. lIn each of the two forms of radiator disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the radiator includes a central section or unit 10 in the form of a hollow container or core. In the structure shown in Fig. 1, the hollow vertical end sections 11-11 are fixed to the central core section which is substantially the same as the core sectionvlO shown in Fig. 2. The end sections 11 are each provided with integral feet or legs 12 for supporting the radiator on the floor. Communication between the interior of the hollow end sections 11 and the central core section 10 is established in any well known manner so that the heating medium ma pass freely from one section to another. ne of the sections 1 1 is provided with the usual inletlor supply pipe connection 13 and the other section 11 is' provided with the'return or outlet pipe 14, a control valve 15 being preferably located vat any convenient place in the supply pipe and the return pipe 14 being preferably provided with the usual' trap not shown. In case the radiator'is not supported directly on the iioor or is employed in connection with an indirect heating system hereinafter more fully referred to, the

`supply and return pipe connections may be made directly with the opposite ends of the core section 10 by means of nipples 16, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

The hollow core section 10, shown in Fig. 2, and the corresponding central core section in Fig. 1 have a plurality of radiating elements or plate-like tins 17 mounted there y on in a manner more fully hereinafter described.

The core section or container 10 which is preferably in the form of a casting, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, has a pair of spaced side walls 18-18 which converge upwardly, a relatively short horizontally distop wall 19, a relatively posed connectin longer horizonta y disposed connecting bottom wall 20 and a pair of vertical end walls 211 The hollow core 10 thus presents an outer contour of wedge shaped cross section. The

hollow core section 1'0 serves as a container through which the heating Huid may circulate, the container being the primary heating or radiating unit of the radiator.

In order to produce radiators of relatively light weight per unit of heating capacity, the core is preferably made of light material and may be constructedin the form of a casting. It is found preferable to construct the core or hollow' container of an aluminum silicon alloy. In formin the core, particular atte-ntion is given to gbtaining as smooth an outer finish as ispossible by the usual casting or machining o rations. i

The radiatlng members or fins -17 are preferably formed of relatively thin light sheet material and are made in plate-like sections. As most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5,

' each fin 17 comprises a relatively large ,fiat

plate-like body rectangular outllne having vertical flanges 23-23 at the side edges thereof, the flanges portion 22 of substantially 23 being disposed at right angles to the body` portion 22 and Having inturned outer edges 24-,24 preferably parallel to the body portion 22. Each plate-like sectionis provided with a central opening 25 of substantially wedge shaped outline. rlhe side edges of the opening 25 of each plate are defined by a pair of side flanges 26-26 formed integral with the body ortion 22 of the fin. The flanges 26 are o set at their inner endsas inf dicated at 27 and the offset sections 27 are Vflanges together functionas means to accurately space the fins when assembled on the radiator core. Due to the offset provided at the inner end of each of the flanges 26, a cer- .tain amount of flexibility is imparted to the lian e.- The wedge shaped openings 25 of the ns 17 are slightly greater in height than the corresponding dimension of the core., as clearlyv shown in Fig. 3 fora' purpose here inafter set-forth. `The offset section 27 at the inner end of each flange 26 is so desi ed as to receive the tip of the ange 26 of t e next adjacent n between the wall 29 and the outer surface of thel hollow core. Above .and below the opening 2,5, the body portion of each lin may be provided with transverse ribs 31 stamped therein, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The fins 17 are preferably -stamped from relatively thin sheet material of high conductivity, for example, the same are preferably made of aluminumv in order to provide lightness, or the same may be made of pure copper when maximum heat conductivity is found desirable. As clearly shown in the drawings, the width. of the fins is preferably several times that of the core or hollow container, thereby providing relativel heat radiating surfaces, addinggreat y to t e economy of operation of the heating unit.

As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the lates or fins 17 are assembled onto the core y passing them, one after another, over the end of the core, with the flanges of all the lates extending in the same direction. hen a number of fins have thus been loosely assembled on the core, suiiicient pressure is applied to the group of ins at opposite ends thereof, to pack or assemble the ns t0- gether with their ianges in Contact with' each other. y During this pressing-operation, the tips of the flanges 26 will enter between the walls 29 of the oiset sections 27 and the side walls 18 of the core. Due to the oifset sections 27, the tips of the anges 26 will be guided, .during the groupin operation, into proper overlapping relatlon to the flanges of the adjacent fins, thusproperly aligning the flanges of the fins preparatory to the operation of forcing the flanges into intimate contact with the corelsurfaces.

It is evident that the conductivity of heat l With this explanation, the reason for the specific shape of core 10 and'the openings 25 of y the fins may now be pointed out.` Assuming that the mere physical contact between the core and the flanges of the fins, when the fit must be loose enough to slideithe fins over the core easily, would not produce that intimate contact necessary to obtain eiicient heat conduction, it is conceived that by forming the core in wedge shape, thereby' providing conlar e verging, inclined or beveled contact faces, the e plates after being initially loosel applied tov the core may be driven or forced ownwardly in the direction of the planesof the fins, andy by reason of the Wedging action that would result the contact surfaces ofthe core and flanges are brought into very close and intimate contact, the idea being, of course, 'to eliminate any air spaces or gaps. no matter how minute. between the surfaces. Any slight irregularity in the outer face contour of the core, due to unavoidable manufacturing conditions, Will be taken care of by a slight adjacent flanges of -tated inasmuch as'the yielding of the Wedge faces 29 which are carried on the offset sections 28 which provide for slight flexing due to the curved portion of the offsets. I.

When the fins have been assembled together,

the flanges 23 of each fin Will bear on the next adjacent fin and the flanges 26 Will hare their outerextremities bearing on the shoulders 30 of said next adjacent fin, thereby accurately spacing the series of fins on the core.

It is evident that in order to facilitate the assembly or threading of the fins upon the core or hollovs7 container` the same must fit the container rather loosely, so that they may be slid easily over the surfaces of the same. It is therefore necessary to provide the transverse Wedging pressure in the direction of the planes of the fins, after the offset sections have telescopically received the tips of -the the lfins during this-assemblingor grouping of the fins on the core.

The transverse pressure in the planes of the fins necessary to force the flanges into intimate vcontact with the core surfaces may be obtained by forcing a Wedge or key member 32 between the bottom wall of the openings 25 in the fins, and the bottom wall 20 of the core. Preferably` however, the transverse pressure is obtained by first driving on the upper edges of the fin members with a mallet or other suitable means until the intimate contact of said surfaces is accomplished, and then inserting the key or Wedge to maintain this pressure in the completed structure, as described in the aforesaid patent.

The locking member 32 is preferably in the form of a sheet metal channel and Wh en forced between the core and the lower Walls of the openings 25 will act to pull the fins downwardly relatively to the core, thereby drawing the flanges 26 into wedging engagement with the side Walls 18 of the core. Y g

By providing the offset 27, the assembly of the fins with the core section is greatly facilioffset sections, by overlapping the flanges 26, operates to retain the end or tip of the cooperating flanges 26. and

. prevents the flanges from being kicked or sprung away from the core 10` when the transln other words, the opposed converging walls 29 of each fin form means for telescopically receiving or overlappingv the flanges 26 of the adjacent fin to press the flanges tightly against the walls 'of the core and cause the entire Width of the flange to contact with the core surface.`

While I have herein shown and described what I consider to be the preferred manner of carrying out my process of forming and assembling radiator parts. I contemplate all of the changes and modifications that come Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The process of assembling radiator fins on radiator cores having Wedging surfaces, which consists in forming said fins With openings and with flanges at the edge of said openings disposed at an angle to the plane of the fin, grouping said fins on the core With the core extending through the openings and With the flange of each fin in engagement with the flange of an adjacent fin, and applying pressure on the fins in the direction of the pla-ne of fins to a degree sufficient to force the flanges into intimate Contact with and in parallel relation to the Wedging surfaces of the core. i

2. The process of assembling radiator fins on radiator cores having wedging surfaces, which consists in forming said fins with openings and with flanges at the edges of said openings disposed at an angle'to the plane of the fin, grouping said fins on the core with the core extending through the openings and with the flange of eachffin overlapping a portion of the flange of an adjacent fin, and applying pressure on the fins in the direction of the plane of fins to a degree sufficient to force the flanges into intimate contact With and in parallel relation to the `rvedging surfaces of the core. 4

3. The process of assembling radiator fins on radiator cores having Wedging surfaces, which consists in forming said fins with openings and with flanges at the edge of said openings disposed at an angle to the plane of the fin, grouping said fins on the core with the core extending through the openings and With the flange of each fin in engagement With the flange of an adjacent fin, applying pressure on the fins in the direction of the plane of fins to a degree suflicientto force the flanges into intimate contact with and in substantial parallel relation to the Wedging surfaces of the core and maintaining said pres-v sure by locking said fins against movement.

4. The herein described process Which'consists in forming a radator core with converging surfaces, forming radiating fins with openings having converging edges and flanges on said edges at an ang e to the planl lof the fins, loosely assembling the fins on the core with their flanges arranged all in one direction and in Contact with each other, and then forcing the flanges into intimate contact with said converging surfaces by appl ing pressure on the fins in the direction ofy the plane ofthe fins.

5. The herein described process which consists informing a radiator core with surfaces longitudinally parallel and converging transversely of the longitudinal axis of the core, forming radiating ns with openings having converging flanges adjacent the edges of the openin s at an angle to the plane of the fins, assemb ing a plurality of fins on the core with the converging flanges parallel with the converging surfaces of the core, compressing the group of iins longitudinally of the core until the anges of the fins are in contactwith each other, and then relatively moving the ins and core toward each other in a direction trans' verse to the longitudinal axis of the core with sufficient pressure to force the converging surfaces and flanges into frictionally intiymate contact.

6. The herein described process which conslsts 1n formmg a radlator core with surfaces longitudinally parallel and converging transversely of the longitudinal axis of the core, forming radiating fins with openings having converging flanges adjacent the edges of the openings at an angle to the plane of the fins, assembling a plurality voi fins on the core with the converging flanges parallel with the converging surfaces of the core, compressing the group of fins longitudinally of the core until the flanges of the fins are in contact with each other, then relatively moving the fins and core vtoward each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the core with sulicient pressure to force-the converging vsurfaces and flanges into frictionally intimate contact, and maintaining said intimate contact by locking the fins and core in against reverse relative movement. y

7. In a process of assembling radiators consisting in providing' a central core having wedgmg surfaces and a plurality of fins having Wedging surfaces; threading the ns'on the core; movingsaid fins in one direction to -bring about Wedging engagement of the wedge -surfaces of said linswith each other; and moving said ns in a dierent direction relative to said core to effect wedging of said ns with respect to the wedging surfaces of said core.

0 day of Januar In Witness that I claim the foregoing, I

have hereunto subscribed my name this 14th 1930 y LFRED SHURTLEFF. 

